John took part in the formation of the Masonry Society (President 1985), participated in many capacities on the Structural Engineers Risk Management Council, and served as President of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE. Public engagement has included service on the Bainbridge Island School Board.
WSPE honored John Tawresey as Engineer of the Year in 2011.
Posted February 2012
Engineer of the Year 1998John Tawresey graduated first in his class from Cornell University in 1966, then went on to obtain an MS in Applied Mechanics from Cornell in 1968 and an MBA from the UW in 1978.
He first worked in aerospace on the Boeing SST, as an employee of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group 1968-73. In 1973 he joined KPFF Consulting Engineers, where he concentrated on aluminum exterior walls and structural masonry systems. John performed as KPFF's Chief Financial Officer and Vice President 1976-2007.
Over the course of his career, he designed hundreds of building walls in many locations. Seattle projects include the Seattle Art Museum, the Starbucks Building, Washington Mutual Tower, and the First Interstate Center. Utilizing his experience in the development of reinforced brick panels and light-framed stone curtain wall panels, he taught structural masonry (CESM 486) at the University of Washington for more than 26 years.